We compare Path Integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) calculations of nuclear reaction rates in dense matter by Militzer and Pollock (2005) to semiclassical calculations assuming Coulomb barrier penetration through the mean-field potential and find good agreement of two approaches. We derive a simple expression for the reaction rate in terms of contact probability of two reacting nuclei. We obtain a simple parameterization of the mean field potential and of the respective reaction rates in a strongly coupled classical ion liquid. We analyze Gamow-peak energies of reacting ions and Coulomb tunneling distances in themonuclear and pycnonuclear reaction regimes and discuss theoretical uncertainties of nuclear reaction rates taking carbon burning in dense stellar matter as an example.

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